Bonfire noun [ Middle English bonefire , banefire , orig. a fire of bones; bone + fire ; but confer also Prov. English bun a dry stalk.] A large fire built in the open air, as an expression of public joy and exultation, or for amusement.

Full soon by bonfire and by bell, We learnt our liege was passing well. Gay.

Bongo (bŏn"gō) noun Either of two large antelopes ( Boöcercus eurycercus of West Africa, and B. isaaci of East Africa) of a reddish or chestnut-brown color with narrow white stripes on the body. Their flesh is especially esteemed as food.

Boning noun [ Senses 1 and 2 from 1st Bone , sense 3 from 3d Bone .] 1. The clearing of bones from fish or meat. 2. The manuring of land with bones. 3. A method of leveling a line or surface by sighting along the tops of two or more straight edges, or a range of properly spaced poles. See 3d Bone , transitive verb

Bonito noun ; plural Bonitoes [ Spanish & Portuguese bonito , from Arabic bainīt and bainīth .] [ Often incorrectly written bonita .] (Zoology) 1. A large tropical fish ( Orcynus pelamys ) allied to the tunny. It is about three feet long, blue above, with four brown stripes on the sides. It is sometimes found on the American coast. 2. The skipjack ( Sarda Mediterranea ) of the Atlantic, an important and abundant food fish on the coast of the United States, and ( S. Chilensis ) of the Pacific, and other related species. They are large and active fishes, of a blue color with black oblique stripes. 3. The medregal ( Seriola fasciata ), an edible fish of the southern of the United States and the West Indies. 4. The cobia or crab eater ( Elacate canada ), an edible fish of the Middle and Southern United States.

Bonnaz noun A kind of embroidery made with a complicated sewing machine, said to have been originally invented by a Frenchman of the name of Bonnaz. The work is done either in freehand or by following a perforated design.

Bonne (bŏn) noun (F., prop. good woman.) A female servant charged with the care of a young child.

Bonnet (bŏn"nĕt) noun [ Middle English bonet , Old French bonet , bonete . French bonnet from Late Latin bonneta , bonetum ; orig. the name of a stuff, and of unknown origin.] 1. A headdress for men and boys; a cap. [ Obsolete] Milton. Shak. 2. A soft, elastic, very durable cap, made of thick, seamless woolen stuff, and worn by men in Scotland.

And p...i...s and bonnets waving high. Sir W. Scott.

3. A covering for the head, worn by women, usually protecting more or less the back and sides of the head, but no part of the forehead. The shape of the bonnet varies greatly at different times; formerly the front part projected, and spread outward, like the mouth of a funnel. 4. Anything resembling a bonnet in shape or use ; as, (a) (Fort.) A small defense work at a salient angle; or a part of a parapet elevated to screen the other part from enfilade fire. (b) A metallic canopy, or projection, over an opening, as a fireplace, or a cowl or hood to increase the draught of a chimney, etc. (c) A frame of wire netting over a locomotive chimney, to prevent escape of sparks. (d) A roofing over the cage of a mine, to protect its occupants from objects falling down the shaft. (e) In pumps, a metal covering for the openings in the valve chambers. 5. (Nautical) An additional piece of canvas laced to the foot of a jib or foresail in moderate winds. Hakluyt. 6. The second stomach of a ruminating animal. 7. An accomplice of a gambler, auctioneer, etc., who entices others to bet or to bid; a decoy. [ Cant]

Bonnet head (Zoology) , a shark ( Sphyrna tiburio ) of the southern United States and West Indies. --

Bonnet limpet (Zoology) , a name given, from their shape, to various species of shells (family Calyptræidæ ). --

Bonnet monkey (Zoology) , an East Indian monkey ( Macacus sinicus ), with a tuft of hair on its head; the munga. --

Bonnet piece , a gold coin of the time of James V. of Scotland, the king's head on which wears a bonnet. Sir W. Scott. --

Bonus noun ; plural Bonuses [ Latin bonus good. Confer Bonny .] 1. (Law) A premium given for a loan, or for a charter or other privilege granted to a company; as the bank paid a bonus for its charter. Bouvier. 2. An extra dividend to the shareholders of a joint stock company, out of accumulated profits. 3. Money paid in addition to a stated compensation.

Bony adjective 1. Consisting of bone, or of bones; full of bones; pertaining to bones. 2. Having large or prominent bones.

Bony fish (Zoology) , the menhaden. --

Bony pike (Zoology) , the gar pike ( Lepidosteus ).

Bonze (bŏn"ze; 277) noun [ Portuguese bonzo , from Japan. bōzu a Buddhist priest: confer French bonze .] A Buddhist or Fohist priest, monk, or nun. » The name was given by the Portuguese to the priests of Japan, and has since been applied to the priests of China, Cochin China, and the neighboring countries.

Booby (bō"bȳ) noun ; plural Boobies (-bĭz). [ Spanish bobo dunce, idiot; confer Latin balbus stammering, English barbarous .] 1. A dunce; a stupid fellow. 2. (Zoology) (a) A swimming bird ( Sula fiber or S. sula ) related to the common gannet, and found in the West Indies, nesting on the bare rocks. It is so called on account of its apparent stupidity. The name is also sometimes applied to other species of gannets; as, S. piscator , the red-footed booby. (b) A species of penguin of the antarctic seas.

About Us

Encyclo.co.uk, online since 2007, is a search engine for English meanings and definitions. The website aims to publish all wordlists, big and small, on the internet, making it much easier to find the word you need.